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Show OCT12 RL - RED RIO - THE So Much For by LeCrand Rogers If Reimiembeir sra! Coach Boone (Wahington) hslps a r , high-scho- ol "Remember the Titans" Disney Pictures Directed by Boaz Yakin Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman Screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard Starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton (of four) by Ja ime Clark d Everybody loves a movie. And Disney is notorious for movies. making "Remember the Titans" is perhaps the best example of a feelgood football flick since "Rudy." It is wholesome, it carries a good message, and it has about as much football as your typical NFL Monday Night. But with Jerry Bruckheimer of "Armageddon" and "Con Air" fame producing this film, you could guess that it wouldn't be a typical Disney film. And it wasn't. The film is a flashback to Alexandria, Va., in 1971. Two neighboring high schools become the first in their city to racially integrate. football The formerly team is faced with the issues of race division, not just on the team but also on the staff. When the school was integrated, coach was an feel-goc- feel-goo- d all-whi- te African-America- The n awy integrated Sundance The theater and lobby are not yet finished, and the walls still bear the structural skeleton, but everything will soon be covered with original artwork by local artists. The theater is currently equipped with upscale lawn chairs which bring an odd feeling to one watching a film. Woodhouse hopes to eventually replace these with director-style chairs bearing the names of financial donors. to the public eye. Nestled under Video Vein's in Holiday lies the basement operation of a truly independent, multimedia house. Alternative Grounds offers entertainment in the way of local independent films, local bands and comedy featuring a hilarious comedy troupe (headed by John Rohgan) going by the name of "Knock Your Socks OIL " If you happen to have an ent.r? Friday or Saturday night free, this is the place to spend it. you thought the Sundance Festival, or even the Tower was about as independent as it gets around here, you're wrong. Alternative Grounds takes the cake with the opening of an underground (literally) film operation in Salt Lake City. John Woodhouse, a graduate student at the University of Utah, has recently undertaken a project to bring the work of local film artists - 2000 see GROUNDS, page Ml JKr-- v 7"T W football team forget about racial tensions. brought in to create diversity in the school. But, as he soon finds out, no one is too happy about the replacement of the Hall of Fame candidate who was the former coach (Will Patton) with a lesser coach. known to hard finds it adjust to Everyone the new change. It becomes the job of Coach African-America- n Boone Denzel Washington) to create harmony between his staff and players, and to make a group of teenage boys realize that skin color is not as important as the unity of the team on the football field. The forced integration on the field ultimately leads these players to mutual respect and admiration for each other off the field. A group of boys who would never have acknowledged each other before find themselves standing up for one another because of their shared love of the game. The racial tension that brewed on the field was not just due to the tensipn written into the plot, but was also due to the commendable acting by the team members. Even though they were for the most part newcomers, the actors displayed the maturity of film veterans, forcing the audience to identify with their characters in real and touching ways. While there was no possible way that any of these actors would actually pass as high school stu- see TITANS, page Rl 1 football team members levn to nspett each other thru ugh the game. ftJ-J- The fi-i - ... wti .. J ,( hi iijuhih , mini n mmpi 1 mf entrance to Alternative Grounds may loon seedy, but it's actually a doorway to cetztit of iaspve&int mrtkit emotivity in Utah. 0,0 "The Tao of Steve" Machine Production Directed by Jenrdpher Goodman Produced by Anthony Bregman Screenplay by Duncan North Starring Donal Logue, Greer Good- A Good man o attached to nothing, one loses nothing. Then along comes Syd, a woman who Dex actually cares for, and his whole philosophy about relationships goes out the window. The dialogue between Syd and Dex is (of four) by Katherine Marlowe "The Tao of Steve" is a romantic comedy that combines Eastern Philosophy with the games people play in relationships. The film revolves around Dex (Donal Logue), a thirtysomething slacker who idolizes such figures as Steve McQueen when it comes to "getting the girl." The actual "Tao of Steve" is Dex's bible when it comes to dealing with wom en. According to Dex, in order to get the girl, .one must eliminate desire, show greatness and finally retreat. This mantra works well for Dex until he meets Syd (Greer Goodman) and realizes that his manipulative tactics to coax women into bed are all phony and worthless. The film is humorous, but more importantly, it is actually interesting and raises some good points about human nature and the gender trap. Dex is the prototypical character who is afraid of feeling anything real for a woman; after all, if one is well-scripte- d and thoughtful. This is due in large part to the fact that the characters feel like real people. Relationships can be scary and difficult, and this film doesn't try to gloss over these facts. Cinematically, the film is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, not because of any grand effects, but because of the location. The adobe backdrops of Santa Fe compliment the overall feel of the film. The soundtrack, although catchy at times, was a little too blatantly obvious in terms of setting the . mood. For instance, in one scene the characters are hiking, and while Dex is panting up the hill, a song with the chorus, "I lied about being the outdoor type" repeats over and over again. However, in the grand scheme of things, the film had few faults. The Tao of Steve makes an honest attempt to explore the reality of relationships and the defense mechanisms we create to protect ourselves from getting too attached or hurt. mi JrT ill Dn (Lofie) dtp all his women-catchin- g r philotophiet when he meets 5yd (Goodman). |